Co-Q 10 is fat soluble vitamin like substance found throughout the body but especially in heart, liver, brain & kidney. Also called as Q10, vitamin Q10, ubiquinone, or ubidecarenone, idebenone.

The normal plasma levels in healthy adults ranges from 0.68-1.1micromol/l.

The levels are maintained principally by endogenous synthesis & to lesser extent through ingestion of food-meat, fish, and veg. oil.

However Co-Q10 biosynthesis decreases due to

• Aging
• Other factors such as chronic use of statins
• Certain diseases like hypertension, diabetes

Role of Co-Q10-

• It is a essential factor in mitochondrial bioenergetics playing a crucial role in electron transport chain & thereby participates in the aerobic cellular respiration, thus generating energy in the form of ATP.
• Powerful antioxidant activity.(it’s tissue concentration being 5-10 fold higher than Vitamin E.)

Role of Co-Q10 in female infertility

Co-Q 10 offers many benefits such as-

• Optimum Co-Q10 levels in follicular fluid of mature oocyte ensures good grade embryos.

In Clomifene Citrate resistant PCOS patients CO-Q10 improve

–  Ovarian response

– Lutenization

–  Ovulation, Endometrial thickness

–  Pregnancy rate

Co-Q10 supplementation in women undergoing IVF resulted in reduced aneuploidy & increased pregnancy rates.

Role of Co-Q10 in male infertility

• In sperm cells, Co-Q10 is concentrated in the Mitochondrial Mid-Piece, where it is involved in energy production.
• Co-Q 10 acts as an antioxidant, preventing Lipid Peroxidation of sperm membranes.
• Co-Q-10 showed significant increase in sperm motility, count and improvement in Fertilization Rate.

Co-Q 10 improves the semen quality and pregnancy Rate.